Side Clamping Honing Guide

Our Side Clamping Honing Guide is an economically priced honing guide based on the classic British Eclipse design. The guide has aluminum jaws with two holding positions designed for holding bevel edged style chisels 1/4″(6mm) to 1-3/4″ (45mm) wide and hand plane blades 1-1/2″(38mm) to 3″(77mm) wide.

The distance your tool projects from the front of the guide determines the honing angle. Distances and angles are noted on the body of the jig for quick reference. Crafting a simple stop block gauge to repeat the projection distance of your blades and chisels you clamp in the honing guide makes set up easy. See below for a guide to building an angle setting board for this jig.

We think this honing guide is a solid entry level option that will get the job done for sharpening basic chisels and plane irons. Even if you decide to upgrade later to a more advanced guide this economy guide will still be handy to have around the shop for years to come.

Making a Cambered Edge

The 1/2″ wide bearing roller facilitates the rocking motion of alternate finger pressure to produce cambered cutting edges as advocated by David Charlesworth. For those who want a wider bearing roller, we recommend Veritas’ MK II Honing Guide .

Improving Performance

A few modifications can greatly improve precision, reliability and grip of this inexpensive honing guide, especially when sharpening narrow chisels or thicker bodied chisels. To perform the modifications, you’ll need a metal file and a bench vise or other tool for holding the honing guide.

We like the instructions on modifying this honing guide offered by Lie-Nielsen (video above), Fine Woodworking & Popular Woodworking

Additional Information

How to Build an angle Setting Jig by Lie-Nielsen PDF